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In the Christian religion it is believed that God first spoke to our first parents, Adam and Eve. When our first parents sinned, God promised them a Redeemer. Out of their descendants God selected certain individuals through whom He revealed Himself and His plan of salvation. He then selected Abraham to be the Father of His chosen people. It was from his lineage that a Redeemer was to come and save the world from its sins. Through the ages God continued to reveal Himself through the patriarchs and the prophets in preparation for the coming of the promised Redeemer: Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The revelations delivered to the patriarchs and the prophets were therefore only partial revelations given to pave the way for Christ our Savior. It was through Christ that God’s full and final revelation was to come. In his letter to the Hebrews St. Paul said: “God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all, in these days hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world” (Heb. 1:1-2). Christ is, therefore, the Light of the World and the bearer of God’s full revelation.
A personal website of Mr. Romeo Maria del Santo Niño, O.P.
January 25, 2024 Edition
CANTICLE OF THE CREATURES
by
Saint Francis of Assisi
A mosaic by Sr. Maria Ludgera Haberstroh
Image source link: commons.wikimedia.org
Note: The poem's title in Latin is Laudes Creaturarum. It is commonly known in English as Canticle of the Creatures (or Praise of the Creatures), but it is also known as The Canticle of the Sun.
Original text in Italian Umbrian dialect:
Altissimu, omnipotente bon Signore,
Tue so le laude, la gloria e l'honore et onne benedictione.
​
Ad Te solo, Altissimo, se konfano,
et nullu homo ène dignu te mentouare.
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Laudato sie, mi Signore cum tucte le Tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate Sole,
lo qual è iorno, et allumini noi per lui.
Et ellu è bellu e radiante cum grande splendore:
de Te, Altissimo, porta significatione.
​
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora Luna e le stelle:
in celu l'ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.
​
Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Uento
et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo,
per lo quale, a le Tue creature dài sustentamento.
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Laudato si, mi Signore, per sor'Acqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.
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Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Focu,
per lo quale ennallumini la nocte:
ed ello è bello et iucundo et robustoso et forte.
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Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora nostra matre Terra,
la quale ne sustenta et gouerna,
et produce diuersi fructi con coloriti fior et herba.
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Laudato si, mi Signore, per quelli ke perdonano per lo Tuo amore
et sostengono infirmitate et tribulatione.
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Beati quelli ke 'l sosterranno in pace,
ka da Te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.
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Laudato si mi Signore, per sora nostra Morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo uiuente pò skappare:
guai a quelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali;
beati quelli ke trouarà ne le Tue sanctissime uoluntati,
ka la morte secunda no 'l farrà male.
​
Laudate et benedicete mi Signore et rengratiate
e seruiteli cum grande humilitate.
​
Notes: so=sono, si=sii (you are), mi=mio, ka=perché, u replaces v, sirano=saranno
​
Source: Wikipedia
English translation by Fr. Paschal Robinson, OFM
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord,
Praise, glory and honor and benediction all, are Thine.
To Thee alone do they belong, most High,
And there is no man fit to mention Thee.
​
Praise be to Thee, my Lord, with all Thy creatures,
Especially to my worshipful brother sun,
Which lights up the day, and through him dost Thou brightness give;
And beautiful is he and radiant with splendor great;
Of Thee, most High, signification gives.
​
Praised be my Lord, for sister moon and for the stars,
In heaven Thou hast formed them clear and precious and fair.
​
Praised be my Lord for brother wind
And for the air and clouds and fair and every kind of weather,
By which Thou givest to Thy creatures nourishment.
Praised be my Lord for sister water,
Which is greatly helpful and humble and precious and pure.
​
Praised be my Lord for brother fire,
By which Thou lightest up the dark.
And fair is he and gay and mighty and strong.
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Praised be my Lord for our sister, mother earth,
Which sustains and keeps us
And brings forth diverse fruits with grass and flowers bright.
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Praised be my Lord for those who for Thy love forgive
And weakness bear and tribulation.
Blessed those who shall in peace endure,
For by Thee, most High, shall they be crowned.
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Praised be my Lord for our sister, the bodily death,
From which no living man can flee.
Woe to them who die in mortal sin;
Blessed those who shall find themselves in Thy most holy will,
For the second death shall do them no ill.
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Praise ye and bless ye my Lord, and give Him thanks,
And be subject unto Him with great humility.
​
Notes: Boldface has been added to explain the illustration made by Sr. Ludgera, and "the which" has been replaced by "which" for simplicity.
Source: Writings of St. Francis of Assisi, pp. 150-153. Dated 1906